WhatsappThe prevailing assumption from the moment President Trump concluded his “peace” deal discussions in the Sinai resort of Sharm el-Sheikh was that the US, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey would be guarantors of the burgeoning Gaza deal. Israelis who were overjoyed by the return of the hostages grew instantaneously wary of Qatari and Turkish involvement in the Gaza Strip.
No amount of reassurances has calmed the public over the last week. After all, Erdogan, the president of Turkey, has insisted that he will capture Jerusalem. Giving him a foothold in Gaza would be a disaster. Suddenly, out of nowhere, it was announced that Turkey was not going to be a part of the International Stabilization Force (ISF) in the Gaza Strip.
Reports indicate that it was not Israel alone that objected to Turkey’s involvement in Gaza, but rather Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Both countries threatened to pull out of the “peace” deal Trump has been promoting if Turkey would be part of the ISF.
Turkey and Qatar are hated in Saudi Arabia and the UAE due to their leaders’ allegiance to the Muslim Brotherhood. Giving them a piece of Gaza would be disastrous, pushing the region to more war, not less. With Netanyahu’s government locked in Trump’s bear hug, others like the Saudis and Emirates have had no choice but to use their influence inside the administration to ensure that Turkey is kept back from Gaza.
So will this keep Turkey out? Many reports indicate that Turkey is already active inside the Hamas-controlled part of the enclave by way of some of their Hamas-linked NGOs. This would be standard operating procedure for Turkey, as they have done the same thing in northern Syria. Given their influence, NATO membership, and Trump’s positive views of Erdogan, Turkey is seen as a major lynchpin for any force meant to control Gaza.
Despite Netanyahu’s insistence that Israel is not a vassal state, Turkey’s involvement in any capacity, renders the Prime Minister’s claim absurd.
